Complex patterns of Hepatitis-C virus longitudinal clustering in a high-risk population

Abstract Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is highly prevalent among people who inject drugs (PWID). Accurate data on HCV prevalence and incidence rates among patients receiving opioid substitution treatment (OST) are needed to estimate the current and future burden of HCV infections in this high-risk population. Methods Baseline data from routine care were collected between October 2014 and June 2016 from randomly selected OST facilities in Germany. The primary outcome measure was the HCV status (antibody and RNA prevalence). Patients who were HCV antibody–negative at baseline were followed up after 12 months to calculate the HCV incidence rate. Results Sixty-three facilities from 14 German Federal States provided clinical data for a total of 2466 OST patients. HCV antibody and HCV RNA prevalence were 58.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 56.8%–60.8%) and 27.3% (95% CI, 25.5%–29.2%), respectively. At baseline, a total of 528 patients (21.4%) had previously undergone antiviral treatment. Moreover, lower HCV RNA prevalence was associated with female gender, employment, younger age, and shorter duration of OST and opioid dependence. The HCV incidence rate was 2.5 cases per 100 person-years. Conclusions The low HCV RNA prevalence and HCV incidence rates confirm that OST in Germany is an effective setting both for treating chronic HCV infections and for preventing new infections among PWID. Scaling up the provision of OST, HCV testing, and HCV treatment among OST patients are important public health strategies for reducing HCV infections in this high-risk population.

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Sensitivity of the Procleix HIV-1/HCV Assay for Detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 and Hepatitis C Virus RNA in a High-Risk Population

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.40.7.2387-2391.2002 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 40 (7) ◽

pp. 2387-2391 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

J. B. Jackson ◽

K. Smith ◽

C. Knott ◽

A. Korpela ◽

A. Simmons ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Hepatitis C Virus ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

High Risk ◽

High Risk Population ◽

Hepatitis C Virus Rna ◽

Virus Rna ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Hiv 1

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Hepatitis C Virus Screening Among Adolescents Attending a Drug Rehabilitation Center

Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society ◽

10.1093/jpids/piz065 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 437-441 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Neil Dominic Fernandes ◽

Swagata Banik ◽

Nazha Abughali ◽

Bonisha Sthapit ◽

Neelab Abdullah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis C Virus ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

High Risk ◽

Hcv Infection ◽

Health Concern ◽

High Risk Population ◽

Drug Rehabilitation ◽

Rehabilitation Center ◽

Hcv Screening ◽

Hcv Testing

Abstract Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has a strong association with intravenous drug use (IVDU). IVDU is a growing public health concern, even in the adolescent population. To our knowledge, there are no published HCV screening studies targeting high-risk adolescents who attend drug rehabilitation centers. This study was designed to determine the seroprevalence of HCV infection utilizing point-of-care (POC) testing at an adolescent drug rehabilitation center and gain a preliminary understanding of the acceptance rate for HCV screening in this high-risk population. Methods This single-center, observational study was conducted at a major drug rehabilitation center in northeast Ohio from July 2016 to June 2017. The consented adolescents who presented at the center were recruited to participate in HCV screening. The participants were administered a survey to assess their demographics and risk behavior profile followed by HCV testing utilizing a POC test. Results During the study period, 150 adolescents were admitted to the drug rehabilitation center, of whom 100 were approached and 85 agreed to participate. Forty percent of the participants (34/85) were females, and 78% (66/85) were white. HCV prevalence among participants was 5% (4/85), all of whom were females. History of heroin use was reported by 15% (13/85) and it was associated with HCV seropositivity; 100% (4/4) of all HCV-positive individuals reported the use of heroin vs only 11% (9/81) of HCV-negative individuals (P = .0004). Conclusions Our study showed a high prevalence of HCV among adolescents attending a drug rehabilitation center with high acceptance of POC HCV testing.

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New hepatitis C virus infection, re-infection and associated risk behaviour in male Irish prisoners: a cohort study, 2019

Archives of Public Health ◽

10.1186/s13690-021-00623-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 79 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Des Crowley ◽

Gordana Avramovic ◽

Walter Cullen ◽

Collette Farrell ◽

Anne Halpin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Hepatitis C Virus ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

High Risk ◽

Drug Use ◽

Risk Behaviour ◽

Hcv Infection ◽

High Risk Population ◽

Heroin Use ◽

History Of

Abstract Background Prisoners are recognised as a high-risk population and prisons as high-risk locations for the transmission of hepatitis c virus (HCV) infection. Injecting drug use (IDU) is the main driver of HCV infection in prisoners and harm reduction services are often suboptimal in prison settings. HCV prevalence and incident data in prisoners is incomplete which impacts the public health opportunity that incarceration provides in identifying, treating and preventing HCV infection. The aim of this study is to identify new HCV infection and associated risk factors in an Irish male prison. Methods We conducted a follow up (18-month) cohort study on prisoners who had previously tested negative, self-cleared or had been successfully treated for HCV infection. We conducted the study in a male medium security prison located in Dublin Ireland (Mountjoy Prison) using HCV serology, a review of medical records and a researcher-administered questionnaire. Results 99 prisoners with a mean age of 33.2 yrs. participated in the study and 82(82.8%) completed a research-administered questionnaire. Over half (51%) had a history of drug use from a young age (14.8 yrs.), 49.9% a history of heroin use and 39% a history of IDU. The prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B virus core antibody was 3% and HCV antibody was 22.2%. No new HCV infections were identified in those who had never been infected (n = 77), had self-cleared (n = 9) or achieved sustained virological response (n = 12). Small numbers of prisoners continued to engage in risk-behaviour including, IDU both in the prison (n = 2) and the community (n = 3), sharing syringes (n = 1) and drug taking paraphernalia (n = 6) and receiving non-sterile tattoos (n = 3). Conclusion Despite the high numbers of Irish prisoners with a history of IDU and HCV infection, new HCV infection is low or non-existent in this population. Small numbers of prisoners continue to engage in risk behaviour and larger studies are required to further understand HCV transmission in this cohort in an Irish and international context.

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